Hard News by Russell Brown

Read Post

Hard News: Ready for the Big One?

140 Responses

First ←Older Page 1 2 3 4 5 6 Newer→ Last

  • Michael Savidge,

    But will the surviving alpha species - cockroaches - be able to operate the computers (and generate the power)?

    I recently read somewhere (anybody?) that the survival of cockroaches after nuclear war is a myth.

    Apparently, butterflies will inherit the earth.

    Nice.

    Somewhere near Wellington… • Since Nov 2006 • 324 posts Report

  • BenWilson,

    Not entirely sure how far I trust anyone's scientific opinion about exactly what will happen after a nuclear war. I'd be pretty amazed if humans couldn't pull through. We're pretty resourceful, and still the only species capable of massive scale coordinated action.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report

  • David Cauchi,

    I'd be pretty amazed if humans couldn't pull through. We're pretty resourceful, and still the only species capable of massive scale coordinated action.

    I don't know about that last claim. Some termites live in colonies of several million individuals and build mounds up to 9 metres high.

    And they self-organise without the need of any kind of central government or leadership hierarchy.

    Wellington • Since Jul 2007 • 121 posts Report

  • Islander,

    Termite queens? Surely that's the ultimate central government...

    Long time since I read Eugene Marais' "The Soul of the White Ant" - must do so again soon.

    Big O, Mahitahi, Te Wahi … • Since Feb 2007 • 5643 posts Report

  • David Cauchi,

    Termite queens? Surely that's the ultimate central government...

    Heh, except termite queens don't govern anything.

    Wellington • Since Jul 2007 • 121 posts Report

  • BenWilson,

    I don't know about that last claim. Some termites live in colonies of several million individuals and build mounds up to 9 metres high.

    Yeah ok then, I'll change that "Humans are the only species capable of novel massive scale coordinated action". Which would probably help us a lot during a catastrophe.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report

  • Islander,

    Except, David Cauchi, their age and life span determines everything that goes on the mound...

    And Ben Wilson has hit the nail on the head as to what what humans can do -change behaviour (well, some behaviours) in new circumstances.

    Big O, Mahitahi, Te Wahi … • Since Feb 2007 • 5643 posts Report

  • Kyle Matthews,

    And Ben Wilson has hit the nail on the head as to what what humans can do -change behaviour (well, some behaviours) in new circumstances.

    Except apparently 99% of scientists agreeing about global climate change and it's dangers. Still up for grabs that one.

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report

  • recordari,

    Apparently all you need is a fridge. Hold your breath for a while, then back into it. Which movie was that? LMAO.

    AUCKLAND • Since Dec 2009 • 2607 posts Report

  • BenWilson,

    Except apparently 99% of scientists agreeing about global climate change and it's dangers. Still up for grabs that one.

    I'm 99% sure humans will survive global warming. Other species...not so sure.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report

  • Islander,

    Yes Kyle Matthews - except of course there has been heavily-funded (by the usual suspects) propaganda denying any kind of AGW, so a large proportion of the population here arnt convinced it exists.*

    A 9+ megaquake or a massive tsunami or a super-volcanic eruption leaves buggerall room for denials...

    *I am convinced by current evidence.

    Big O, Mahitahi, Te Wahi … • Since Feb 2007 • 5643 posts Report

  • BenWilson,

    I think for a lot of people the question isn't about whether global warming is happening, but more about whether it matters. Especially whether it matters more than losses we would incur trying to stop it.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report

  • Islander,

    BenWilson - humans have got down to (an estimated, genetically) about 10,000 AHMs before : it was luck, random chance, that we survived.

    That bottleneck had nothing to do with AGW: what is becoming more & more certain is that a *lot* of humans will die when it happens.

    In that instance, your "Especially whether it matters more than losses we would incur trying to stop it" - equals losses of what to whom?

    Big O, Mahitahi, Te Wahi … • Since Feb 2007 • 5643 posts Report

  • giovanni tiso,

    equals losses of what to whom?

    Yes. It's not local warming, unfortunately. So it's likely that a lot of the casualties and the flooded and the displaced will live thousands of miles away from the greatest contributors to the problem.

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report

  • BenWilson,

    It's not certain what the outcomes will be from the warming wrt to human losses. Crystal ball gazing there. But it seems pretty certain it's happening and it's a hell of a lot to risk.

    But there are big losses from trying to reverse it, too. The entire world economy is made possible by fossil fuels usage. There is nothing like it as a replacement, yet, so we are talking enormous cuts in production. That could kill millions of people too. That is also a hell of a lot to risk.

    Then there's 'opportunity cost'. Even just a slowdown in the world production capacity means the any number of things that can't happen that might have been able to. For instance, thousands of hospitals might never be built. That could kill millions of people.

    I think humanity can possibly reorganize to cope with these difficulties, but we haven't reached a point just yet where it seems worth the risk to enough people. Please note I'm not one of those people. I think it's worth the effort to at least try to reduce greenhouse gas production. It's the only way we can really be sure whether we even could fix the problem.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report

First ←Older Page 1 2 3 4 5 6 Newer→ Last

Post your response…

This topic is closed.